Superior Court Online Calendar

The Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in the State of Washington. Superior Courts hear civil cases, juvenile and adult criminal cases, domestic relations cases, probates, guardianships, juvenile dependency cases, and appeals from administrative agencies and district and municipal courts.

Over the past decade, the Superior Court in Clallam County has been composed of two Superior Court judges and one full time Court Commissioner and staff. More and more, it seems, the public and the State Legislature looks to Courts as a forum to resolve society's disputes. The numbers in Clallam County reflect this. In 1990 a total of 2,023 cases were filed in Clallam County Superior Court. During that calendar year, there were a total of 7,118 Court proceedings. A Court proceeding is defined as "a matter held in open Court with at least one of the parties present in a case in which oral arguments or testimony is given." In the year 2000 just completed, 3,375 cases were filed in the Superior Court, an increase over the past decade of 76%. For the first time more than 400 adult criminal felony charges were filed in one year (compared to 151 in 1990). There were 14,805 court proceedings held in the year 2000. This is an increase in proceedings over the last decade of 107%.

It is difficult to specify the exact reasons for the substantial increase in filings and proceedings in Superior Court. Increases to and changes in the nature of our population may account for some of the increase. The legislature has enacted new laws or modified old laws increasing the number of crimes that are now felonies, as opposed to misdemeanors. The legislature has mandated that courts become involved in specialized court calendars such as domestic violence and anti-harassment restraint, truancy, youth-at-risk, children in need of services, and others. The Supreme Court has adopted rules that require additional hearings for some matters heard before the Superior Court. The Clallam County Superior Court has established specialized court calendars such as our juvenile and adult drug courts and the "pay or appear in court" calendar (which monitors convicted felons for compliance with payments of their fines and restitution).

Over the last decade the Superior Court of Clallam County has had to make many changes to be able to accommodate its increasing workload. Court hours have been expanded to accommodate the number of motions which must be heard. We have implemented standardized forms to quicken routine proceedings. We have changed the way juries are selected to minimize the amount of time necessary to empanel our juries. We have added computers to the courtroom and use document imaging to allow speedier access to necessary information. We have enacted court rules imposing mandatory arbitration for smaller civil cases, mandatory mediation for domestic relations cases, and implemented the drug court programs. These all serve to reduce the number of contested trials which the Court must hear. While we have made many changes, each and every change has been considered first from the standpoint of whether or not it might reduce the public's access to justice or impact the quality of justice rendered. For example, mandatory mediation of our domestic relations cases allows the parties access to a judge/mediator to explain their disputes regarding property division or an appropriate parenting plan for their children. Usually in one or two hours of mediation the parties can reach a resolution without the necessity of a lengthy trial. Our mediation success rate in Clallam County is in excess of 90%. The parties to mediation also learn to resolve their disputes through negotiation or the use of mediators, and therefore return to court less often when disputes arise in the future. This program, while saving the court trial time, also provides the parties with speedier access to resolution of their issues.

Recently, with the aid of Pro Bono Lawyers, we have established a Courthouse Facilitator. The Courthouse Facilitator is a trained paralegal who can assist pro se litigants, (those without attorneys) in preparing papers and understanding the procedures necessary to present their matters to the Court. In addition to easing access to court, this program also allows judges to spend less court time dealing with incorrect paperwork or the use of the wrong procedure by the parties who appear before us.

The Court's staff and the members of the County Clerk's office are dedicated, caring and extremely competent public servants. Whether it is taking on extra duties, staying late to accommodate an out of town witness, or working through the noon hour so that matters may be ready when a jury returns, they are willing to assist. Their efforts, more than anything else, have allowed us to meet the ever-increasing workload of the Court.

Many of the ideas and programs we have instituted to make us more efficient came at the suggestion of litigants, attorneys, and the general public. We encourage anyone who has any ideas for the court to contact our Court Administrator.

Prepared by Judge Ken Williams

Contact the Superior Court with questions or comments about the information on this page.